This morning opportunity to find out more about each other, well Peter and Kath Collinge, actually.

 

Ask - How long known each other, how long been married ? So you have shared a lot of your lives  together. 

 

Ask Peter to go into the vestry, perhaps Michael to accompany him, to talk while I ask Kath a few questions

 

·         What were your thoughts when you met Peter for the first time?

·         How did you feel when you first moved into Bunbury ?

·         If money and time were no object, where would Peter like to go on holiday ? What would he spend his time doing ?

 

Compare responses.

 

In a marriage, man & woman are joined together because they see something in each other that they find attractive - physical at first perhaps, yet more the other’s person’s nature which is appealing - their sense of humour, wit, their gentleness, the care they have for others

 

Most people who have lived with someone for a long time, start to understand the other person more deeply, how they would react in a given situation, what they enjoy and dislike, even the ideal Christmas present.

 

Also start to see other aspects that are less appealing - none of us is perfect , how do they act under pressure, perhaps irritability, quick temper, an element of pride or selfishness.

 

What would it be like if you could get a full report on someone before you decided whether you wanted to become friends, or take the plunge, like a car inspection report, or homebuyers pack for people. If it were available what would it say about you. Imagine what it could say, fine sense of humour provided he is not the butt of jokes when he can turn nasty, a tendency to scowl when crossed, don’t be beguiled by her smile, watch your wallet.

 

There is a dark side to each of us, something that is less pleasant, aspects which others may recoil from if they were exposed so we try and keep it well hidden. May not even realise it ourselves because experiences in early childhood taught us that it was best to suppress those feelings or traits.

 

Psychologists try to uncover it through psychometric tests which seek to identify how you will behave in a given situation - what is your natural personality rather than what we can see ? Extrovert vs Introvert, sense things or use your intuition more.

 

In our gospel reading we heard about the call of Nathanael. What was it that attracted Nathanael to Jesus ? His first reaction wasn’t very positive was it. Can anything good come out of Nazareth, he may even have been aware of Jesus as a young boy growing up, otherwise why would Philip have referred to him as the son of Joseph. Yet it changed all of a sudden when Jesus said that he saw Nathanael under the fig tree.

 

Not only did this demonstrate that Jesus had supernatural powers, but it demonstrated that he could see into Nathanael innermost thoughts. No doubt Nathanael was searching for something in his mind as he sat under the leafy branches of the fig tree shielding him for the midday sun.

 

In Psalm 139 David recognises that God knows everything about us, before we were born God, who has perfect knowledge, could see how our lives would unfold. Everything is uncovered before him. Its amazing, but also immensely frightening.

 

When Jesus called his disciples, he didn’t go to the synagogue or the Temple, even though there were God fearing people there. No he went to the fishing village, communities like           where people had experienced tragedy and sorrow and were asking why ? To the toll booth on the street corner, to the rich man who was desperately unhappy as he didn’t have any friends, to the small provincial town, to the bars where people were plotting to overthrow the Emperor - in short he went where people were seeking God.

 

These people were not perfect. Yet even though he knew everything about their characters, Jesus still welcomed them. Peter, one of his closest friends who had an insight that Jesus was the Son of God, yet who denied him 3 times when the going got tough. Thomas, the sceptic, who had to see with his own eyes before he would believe what others told him, even Judas, the thief who would ultimately betray him, he was given a chance to be different

 

Jesus accepts us as we are, where we are, provided we acknowledge that parts of our life are wrong, to repent, to turn back and seek forgiveness. Jesus welcomes people who realise that they are wrong, that something is missing, and that they need help in sorting things out. Because Jesus doesn’t concentrate on what we are, instead he focuses on what we can become if only we are prepared to leave those things that are holding us back. .

 

Pause - play “The Things we leave behind” 

 

Simon de Bell